Vuelta a España Vuelta a España 2022, stage 11: ElPozo Alimentacion - Cabo de Gata, 191.2k

[tobydawq]

Does UCI has any rules how many riders have to be present in a GT to still be acceptable. Maybe at least half or third of the starting peloton?

I don't think so.

But there will definitely be asterisks for this race. Which is a pity for Remco.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

No, we're not. We see riders like Bennett and Yates who wanted to exploit their mandate to decide what to do with their bodies but weren't allowed because the thing they had in their body had a fancy name which still terrifies the powers-that-be and express digruntlement about that.

Cool, given that this "expressing disgruntlement" is actually not supported by a scientific argument and you continously fail to explain why an infectous person isn't a problem to hang around other people, I'll stick with bitching.
There are also riders who wanted to continue riding without helmets yet we've had the obligation to wear them for over 20 years now. I also can't chose to take the personal risk to drive my car with 200km/h through small streets in cities. There's more to just "letting people decide what to do with their bodies" and be done with it.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I don't think so.

But there will definitely be asterisks for this race. Which is a pity for Remco.

If he makes it to Madrid without any major difficulty in keeping the lead, I disagree on that, as he's proved before the abandons really got going that he is the strongest in this race. In just about any other case, OTOH, whoever wins this will have more asterisks to their win than TGH in the 2020 Giro.

 

[Breh]

Agreed, neither Sivakov or Yates (or anyone for that matter) looked like they could dethrone Evenepoel, or play a part in dethroning him.

 

[Netserk]

Does UCI has any rules how many riders have to be present in a GT to still be acceptable. Maybe at least half or third of the starting peloton?

There only needs to be 1 rider left.

 

[Netserk]

Agreed, neither Sivakov or Yates (or anyone for that matter) looked like they could dethrone Evenepoel, or play a part in dethroning him.

Disagree about Yates. He would initiate aggressions.

 

[movingtarget]

Headwind all day except for the final few kms. This is going to be a hard watch

Or an easy no watch.......

 

[tobydawq]

If he makes it to Madrid without any major difficulty in keeping the lead, I disagree on that, as he's proved before the abandons really got going that he is the strongest in this race. In just about any other case, OTOH, whoever wins this will have more asterisks to their win than TGH in the 2020 Giro.

I certainly share that opinion but I imagine the Remco critics will have something to play with here.

 

[Rollthedice]

#Nibalivoodoo
Still some work to do, but The Shark is off to a good start.

Vino asked him to do a little favor for MAL, the lad needs some confidence boost.

 

[Bonimenier]

Break consist of a rider of each Spanish pro conti team. 4 minutes ahead already. This should be a sprint in the end.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

Agreed, neither Sivakov or Yates (or anyone for that matter) looked like they could dethrone Evenepoel, or play a part in dethroning him.

Don't forget that Remco no longer needs to sprint against Sam Bennett. The asterisk next to his upcoming points classification win will be so big that people will forget he won the GC.

 

[Big Doopie]

I don't think so.

But there will definitely be asterisks for this race. Which is a pity for Remco.

The only asterisk at this point would be if Remco has to exit because of Covid.

 

[Pirazziattacks]

Tell that to Sepp Kuss.
Meh, I understand that the goals and economic reality often force these guys to push beyond what's considered healthy, but I'll remain quite uneasy with the gladiatoresque notion of "just carry on, let them ride until they fall off their bike" mentality. Covid or not, you shouldn't continue racing with body aches and fever and you shouldn't stick with a healthy team when you're infectious.

This is especially important given that in this sport people have quite literally ridden until they've fallen off and died thanks to the power of amphetamines and other drugs. Professional athletes haven't always been the best judges of what they should and shouldn't do, and the coaches etc. around them even more so (especially when there's a lot of money on the line).

 

[YavorD]

If Covid is not a thing for the general public and people don't get tester regularly, should not be a problem for cycling as well.

Otherwise you make a race (okay, pre-race and post-race) amongst untested, potentially infectious people/crowds putting riderriders at risk getting it and leaving the race.

Seriously, don't know how anyone feels, but I'm certain if it wasn't Covid most of the riders would carry on riding, as it's probably mild symptoms.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I don't think so.

But there will definitely be asterisks for this race. Which is a pity for Remco.

I wouldn't know why. Yates was already 5 minutes down, Sivakov was 7 minutes down. He blew them away on every MTF and the ITT. If he doesn't bonk on Sierra Nevada, those guys would not have made any difference. I think it would be a completely different story if Remco got covid and Mas ended up winning. In that case you would really get the impression he only won because of Covid.

 

[dazaau]

I wouldn't know why. Yates was already 5 minutes down, Sivakov was 7 minutes down. He blew them away on every MTF and the ITT. If he doesn't bonk on Sierra Nevada, those guys would not have made any difference. I think it would be a completely different story if Remco got covid and Mas ended up winning. In that case you would really get the impression he only won because of Covid.

Agree, the only way Remco looks weak here is if Roglic and/or mas gets covid and Remco also loses a chunk of time on Sierra Nevada to the likes of MAL or Hindley or something. Then who knows what might have been.

Remco now looks so far stronger than any of them. I wasn't expecting that to this degree. I underated him significantly.

 

[houtdffan]

Sivakov was asymptomatic according to CN

 

[groogster]

Sivakov also out with covid?

 

[Bonimenier]

Sivakov also out with covid?

Yes

 

[search]

Sivakov was asymptomatic according to CN

it's a shame, but what solution do you see? If he stays in, infects Rodriguez, and he falls sick and loses half an hour, what have we (or the team) won?

 

[groogster]

It’s a shame for all those guys who give a lot just to be forced to drop, but really think that’s for the better, even with mild to no symptoms they still carry a nasty virus and no one knows the impact on their health of having them making huge physical efforts! It could be dangerous for them and even life threatening! As soon as they have it, even if without symptoms the body starts to fight the virus so they spend much more energy, riding and fighting it at the same time.

 

[yaco]

Does UCI has any rules how many riders have to be present in a GT to still be acceptable. Maybe at least half or third of the starting peloton?

Nah - Bike Exchange ended the 2014 Giro with two riders.

 

[yaco]

Apparently, there is a stomach bug ripping through the peleton which could cause further grief.

S.Yates did not have the form to attack in this Vuelta and so was very unlikely to win a stage - In saying that his overall level was solid enough to finish 4th to 7th.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Does UCI has any rules how many riders have to be present in a GT to still be acceptable. Maybe at least half or third of the starting peloton?

Yes. One.

 

[Netserk]

Apparently, there is a stomach bug ripping through the peleton which could cause further grief.

S.Yates did not have the form to attack in this Vuelta and so was very unlikely to win a stage - In saying that his overall level was solid enough to finish 4th to 7th.

He already did attack. And the later stages better allow for the next in line to attack.